Ship resistance when operating in floating ice floes: A combined CFD&DEM approach

Whilst climate change is transforming the Arctic into a navigable ocean where small ice floes are floating on the sea surface, the effect of such ice conditions on ship performance has yet to be understood. The present work combines a set of numerical methods to simulate the ship-wave-ice interaction in such ice conditions. Particularly, Computational Fluid Dynamics is applied to provide fluid solutions for the floes and it is incorporated with the Discrete Element Method to govern ice motions and account for ship-ice/ice-ice collisions, by which, the proposed approach innovatively includes ship-generated waves in the interaction. In addition, this work provides two algorithms that can implement computational models with natural ice-floe fields, which takes floe size distribution and randomness into consideration thus achieving high-fidelity modelling of the problem. Following validation against experiments, the model is shown accurate in predicting the ice-floe resistance of a ship, and then a series of simulations are performed to investigate how the resistance is influenced by ship speed, ice concentration, ice thickness and floe diameter. This paper presents a useful approach that can provide power estimates for Arctic shipping and has the potential to facilitate other polar engineering purposes.     

Numerical estimation of ship resistance in broken ice and investigation on the effect of floe geometry

In this paper, a numerical model based on the non-smooth discrete element method is presented to investigate the effect of ice floe shape on ship resistance under low-concentration broken ice condition where ice fields consist of relatively small and unbreakable floes. The accuracy of the numerical model is validated by the comparison with a series of experiments conducted by the authors with artificial ice floes made from polypropylene (PP) material. The mean ice resistance estimated by the numerical model is in fairly good agreement with both the experimental results and those from the existing semi-empirical formulas. Additionally, the floe shape effect captured in the experiment, i.e. “rectangle-like” floes results in higher resistance than “elliptic-like” floes, is also predicted by the numerical model. Then, the validated numerical model is used to further investigate the effect of floe shape on ship resistance. It has been found that the rectangle floe results in higher ice resistance than other studied floe shapes. The ratio between the maximum and minimum caliper diameters of floe shows little influence on the ice resistance of ship. Finally, the effect of ice thickness on the ice resistance is also discussed.     

Economic feasibility of an NSR/SCR-combined container service on the Asia-Europe lane: a new approach dynamically considering sea ice extent

The trend towards global warming and the rapid decline in the extent of summer Arctic sea ice over recent years has increased the feasibility of international Arctic shipping. In this study we propose a seasonal NSR (North Sea Route)/SCR (Suez Canal Route)-combined shipping service linking Shanghai and Rotterdam, using the Northern Sea Route during the economical navigable window but using the traditional Suez Canal Route at other times. Different from the previous literatures, this paper dynamically considers the sea ice extent in the model, which is more reasonable for the assessment of Arctic container shipping, because fuel consumption is highly related to ship speed, while ship speed is determined by the relative distances of ice-covered and ice-free route stages. A new approach is developed to predict the time points at which the ship enters and exits the ice-covered stage, given that both the ship position and the extent of sea ice are constantly changing. The results show that the NSR/SCR-combined Arctic container service can be more economical than the SCR, given lower NSR tariffs.     

冰区运输船极地海域航行阻力的模型试验研究（英文）

为了考查冰区运输船在北极结冰海域航行时所受到的航行阻力,进行了一系列室内物理模型试验。试验中船体模型通过一个单向测力传感器与主拖车上的刚性拖曳臂相连。试验包含三种主要的冰条件,即船体独立航行的平整冰条件、在破冰船引导下航行的航道碎冰条件和独立航行的浮冰条件。平整冰及航道碎冰条件下对多种船体航行速度进行考察,而浮冰条件下则针对不同的冰覆盖率展开研究。试验中对冰-船相互作用模式、冰排在船体不同位置处的破坏进程以及碎冰沿船体的运动状态进行了详尽的观测,并对船体的航行阻力进行了有效的测量。此外,文中还对航行阻力均值与极值之间的差异进行了详尽的讨论与分析。结果表明,冰条件与船体航行速度是影响船体航行阻力的重要因素。     

Experimental study on the resistance of a transport ship navigating in level ice

This study investigates the resistance of a transport ship navigating in Arctic waters by conducting a series of model tests in an ice tank at Tianjin University. The laboratory-scale model ship was mounted on a rigid carriage using a one-directional load cell and then towed through an ice sheet at different speeds. We observed the ice-breaking process at different parts of the ship and motion of the ice floes and measured the resistances under different speeds to determine the relationship between the ice-breaking process and the ice resistance. The bending failure at the shoulder area was found to cause maximum resistance. Furthermore, we introduced the analytical method of Lindqvist (1989) for estimating ice resistance and then compared these calculated results with those from our model tests. The results indicate that the calculated total resistances are higher than those we determined in the model tests.     

Dilated-polyhedron-based DEM analysis of the ice resistance on ship hulls in escort operations in level ice

The ice resistance on ships in escort operations in level ice are investigated using the discrete element method (DEM). A dilated polyhedron—generated by the Minkowski sum of a sphere and a polyhedron—is employed in the DEM; this dilated polyhedron-based DEM (DPDEM) is adopted to simulate the ship–ice interaction, wherein the contact force and bond-failure criterion are considered for the collision and fracture of sea ice, respectively. A three-point bending test was simulated with DPDEM, and a field test was conducted in the Bohai Sea to validate the DEM results. Further, a parametric analysis of flexural strength was conducted to identify the parameters involved in the bond-failure criterion. The ice resistance on icebreakers and cargo ships in level ice are simulated using DPDEM. The simulated ice resistances are compared with the Lindqvist and Riska formulas and the model test, which proves the validity of the DEM simulation. The interaction between ships and level ice is simulated parametrically to investigate the ice resistance on cargo ships with and without the icebreaker escort. Influencing factors such as ship speed, ice thickness, and ship breadth were examined to investigate the ice resistance on the escorted cargo ship. Analysis and change rules of the ice resistance on cargos affected by those factors were given.     

不同敏感性参数下船舶-碎冰碰撞的船体结构响应

基于我国第七次北极科学考察获得的夏季北极海冰空间分布情况,模拟真实碎冰分布,采用LS-DYNA软件中的流固耦合方法,研究在船舶航速、碎冰尺度、碎冰厚度及碎冰密集度等因素影响下船舶-碎冰碰撞的船体结构响应。结合试验数据得到船体结构的应力、吸能和碰撞力。结果表明：船舶-碎冰的主要碰撞区域为艏部及舷侧的水线附近;在船舶航行于碎冰域时,船体结构的应力、吸能和碰撞力的峰值随碎冰域的船舶航速、碎冰尺度、碎冰厚度及碎冰密集度的增加而增加,但分布情况不同。研究结果为船舶在极地冰区航行提供一定的安全性参考。     

基于改进蚁群算法的船舶冰区航行路径规划

在北极航道开通的背景下,针对在冰区航行环境中船舶航行路径选择的特殊性,通过改进蚁群算法提高船舶航行路径的规划效果。综合考虑航线距离、航行操作复杂度和流冰规避在内的冰区航行路径影响因素,建立路径选择多目标规划模型,结合人工势场法对蚁群算法进行改进,通过人工势场法获得初始路径和节点间距离因素构造启发信息,并以电子海图为基础建立海冰覆盖率分别为30%和50%情况下的冰区航道环境栅格模型,将算法应用在栅格模型中对算法进行验证。结果表明:该算法实现简单,规划的路径优良,能够有效地满足船舶在冰区复杂环境中航行路径规划的需要。     

极地平整冰区运输船航行阻力的模型试验研究（英文）

This study investigates the resistance of a transport ship navigating in level ice by conducting a series of model tests in an ice tank at Tianjin University. The laboratory-scale model ship was mounted on a rigid carriage using a one-directional load cell and then towed through an ice sheet at different speeds. We observed the ice-breaking process at different parts of the ship and motion of the ice floes and measured the resistances under different speeds to determine the relationship between the ice-breaking process and ice resistance. The bending failure at the shoulder area was found to cause maximum resistance. Furthermore, we introduced the analytical method of Lindqvist(1989) for estimating ice resistance and then compared these calculated results with those from our model tests. The results indicate that the calculated total resistances are higher than those we determined in the model tests.     

冰载荷下的船舶运动建模

随着极地航道的开辟以及极地海洋能源开发的需要,海冰与船体的相互作用以及极地船舶航行与作业安全越来越受到关注。本文主要针对破冰过程的几个典型阶段,对冰载荷对船舶的作用力进行了分析与计算,并考察了破冰船在不同的海冰密集度、冰厚以及船舶不同航速情况下的不同影响。     

Risk influencing factors analysis of Arctic maritime transportation systems: a Chinese perspective

Recently, the melting of Arctic sea ice and development of maritime technology are enabling the regular voyages in Arctic waters. However, the Arctic maritime transportation system (AMTS) is a complex and dynamic system with respect to human, technical, environmental and organizational issues. For example, ships operating in Arctic waters suffer severe weather conditions, fully and partially ice-covered waters, and are also difficult to search and rescue in ice-covered Arctic waters due to remoteness from lands. These risk factors will influence the safety and security of ships operating in Arctic waters. For this, this paper identifies potential risk influencing factors (RIFs) for the AMTS from human, technical (ship), environmental and organizational aspects. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method is used to analyze the hierarchical relationships and calculate the relative importance of the selected RIFs. Due to the complexity and uncertainty involved in the comprehensive analysis of RIFs for the AMTS, fuzzy sets are incorporated into AHP analysis to represent and treat the epistemic uncertainty. The identified critical RIFs in this study can be used to propose specific guidance for the operations of crews on board, ship owners, and ship managers.     

基于CFD的船舶不同浪向下运动及增阻数值分析

为分析波浪对船舶快速性和耐波性的影响,必须对波浪中航行的船舶阻力增值进行准确预报。本文基于计算流体力学软件FINE/Marine建立了Wigley船模的数值模型,对不同规则波波长下的船体运动和波浪增阻进行了计算,并与试验结果进行对比,验证了数值模型的可行性与准确性。同时计算分析了船舶在规则波中航行时的波浪增阻与浪向之间的变化关系。通过研究发现：随着浪向角的增大船舶波浪增阻逐渐增加,在60°浪向角时波浪增阻达到最大值,浪向角对波浪增阻的影响较大。本文的研究方法可用于船舶有航速下的不同浪向波浪增阻的数值预报。     

冰区航行船舶冰阻力数值研究进展

冰阻力是影响船舶在冰区航行性能的关键因素。当前主要的冰阻力研究方法有经验公式法、模型/实船试验法和数值模拟方法。数值模拟方式能够对船舶破冰的全过程进行快速模拟,且模拟成本低,参数易于控制 、结果较为准确,是一种比较适宜的冰阻力预报方法。随着计算技术的进步,各种数值模拟方法层出不穷,其中包括基于网格单元的有限元模型,基于无网格方法的离散元模型、SPH法、近场动力学模型等;近年来,网格模型与无网格模型的耦合方法也逐渐发展起来。文章简要梳理了冰区航行船舶冰阻力数值研究的进展,并基于研究现状提出尚需进一步解决的问题,意在为进一步提高冰阻力数值模拟精度提供参考。     

Structural design considerations for ships operating in arctic regions北大核心CSCD

冰脊和冰山与极地船体发生碰撞将影响船体结构安全,并决定船体结构设计载荷。船体结构设计应遵循基于风险的设计原则,通常涉及以下极限状态设计准则:1)服务极限状态(SLS);2)最终极限状态(ULS);3)疲劳极限状态(FLS);4)事故极限状态(ALS)。最终极限状态和事故极限状态对应于发生概率极低的船与冰脊作用以及冰山撞击事件,旨在确保船体结构不会完全损毁。然而,对于较低概率水平的冰载荷分析,需进行较大数据量的工况分析,计算耗时无法承受。为此,引入环境等值轮廓方法,来大幅减少冰载荷分析所需工况数量,并给出设计工况最有可能的冰体参数组合方式。结合最终极限状态和事故极限状态,举例说明这一方法的运用方式。环境等值轮廓方法可为现有极地船舶船体结构设计方法提供有效补充。     

小水线面双体船操纵性数值预报方法研究

文章基于粘性流体理论,采用CFD技术,通过对双体船变漂角旋臂运动的模拟,得到代表小水线面双体船舶操纵性能的水动力导数。利用MMG模型,对小水线面双体船的操纵性能进行初步预报。根据变漂角旋臂运动的数值模拟,既可从中得到仅仅与漂角和角速度有关的水动力导数,也可获得包括高阶导数和耦合导数在内的操纵性运动水动力导数。文章在保留三阶水动力导数的情况下,将代入高阶耦合水动力导数的操纵运动方程所绘制的回转圈与不代入高阶耦合水动力导数的回转圈进行对比,体现了高阶耦合水动力导数对于小水线面双体船操纵性预报的重要性,并以某双体船型为例,对其操纵性能进行预报。     

Investigations on the ship-ice impact: Part 1. Experimental methodologies

In the structural design of the Polar Class ships, glancing impact with ice has been considered as the governing load scenario for dimensioning the bow structure. At present, non-linear transient dynamic analysis has been reckoned as a fundamental requirement in the assessment of the structural strength of ships with higher ice classes. Under such requirement, understanding of the dynamic characteristics of the ship-ice impact load appears significant importance. The present study aims to investigate the spatial and temporal variations of the impact loads by simulating the glancing impact events between a polar research vessel and giant ice floes in ice tank. The ship-ice impact loads were recorded by a grid-based tactile sensor attached on the bow area of the model ship. To achieve a reasonable simulation on the design scenario described by the IACS Unified Requirements for Polar Class Ships (UR I), a series of methodological calibration tests were preliminarily carried out to determine the key parameters that should be carefully monitored and controlled, accompanying with thorough discussions on the ship-ice impact process. This paper provides detailed information on the preliminary methodological calibrations and the tactile data processing techniques, including the identification of the ship-ice contact area, the depiction of the ice loading trail and the outline of the spatial distributions of local ice pressures. A companion paper provides detailed analyses and discussions regarding the spatial and temporal variation of the ice impact loads from the formal tests based on the proposed testing procedures obtained by the methodological calibrations.     

Full scale ice sea trials of Korean ice breaking research vessel ‘Araon’ on the big floes near Antarctica

A speed sea trial was performed in the Amundsen Sea in February and March of 2012. The Korean ice breaking research vessel “Araon” was used to check speed performance on the big floes. Two of ice trial cases were carried out. We describe the time history of location, the engine power, and the revolutions per minute during the ice trial, and the trajectory of the ship. Additionally, the measured ice properties are considered and discussed. The ice trial results were analyzed according to variation in ice thicknesses, ice strength, propulsion power, and the speed level of the ship. Our analysis results are compared to model test results and ice trial results. A correction to the target ice thickness was used to compare the power and speed relation in the same ice thickness because it is easy to know the relative speed performance of the ship. The Hamburgische Schiffbau-Versuchs Anstalt method was applied for the correction. The speed of Araon in big floes was higher than the speed in level ice. The speed after the correction at 10 MW of power and 103 cm of ice thickness was 5.4 knots based on analysis results.     

Optimization of bow shape for a non ballast water ship

In this research,a commercial CFD code ＂Fluent＂ was applied to optimization of bulbous bow shape for a non ballast water ships（NBS）.The ship was developed at the Laboratory of the authors in Osaka Prefecture University,Japan.At first,accuracy of the CFD code was validated by comparing the CFD results with experimental results at towing tank of Osaka Prefecture University.In the optimizing process,the resistances acting on ships in calm water and in regular head waves were defined as the object function.Following features of bulbous bow shapes were considered as design parameters： volume of bulbous bow,height of its volume center,angle of bow bottom,and length of bulbous bow.When referring to the computed results given by the CFD like resistance,pressure and wave pattern made by ships in calm water and in waves,an optimal bow shape for ships was discovered by comparing the results in the series of bow shapes.In the computation on waves,the ship is in fully captured condition because shorter waves,λ/Lpp 0.6,are assumed.     

冰区航行船舶冰阻力研究方法综述

船舶在冰区航行时的冰阻力性能一直是国内外关注和研究的重点。冰阻力的研究主要集中在经验方法、数值模拟和实验研究三个方面。同时,由于冰区船舶在航行过程中频繁地与冰层或浮冰产生碰撞,海冰的材料结构和力学性质对冰阻力的研究有重要影响。文章从冰的物理力学特性出发,简要回顾几种重要的冰本构关系模型及其适用性;并从经验方法及试验与数值模拟相结合两个角度,回顾和讨论浮冰区和平整冰区中船舶的冰阻力性能研究进展;最后,基于研究现状提出尚需进一步解决的问题。文章旨在介绍冰区船舶冰阻力性能的研究进展,望能为后续冰阻力研究提供参考。